1000 Minutes: Dave #8

As those who come to this page regularly will notice, we have changed up our posting schedules. Like Andy said a few days ago, I will most likely be putting my 1000 Minutes posts up on Fridays going forward while he will be taking over Tuesdays, in turn forcing the Smörgåsbord to move to Wednesdays. We have been a little lax in our posts the last week or so but we’ll try to get back on track after this weekend. Anyways, on to my next batch of songs.

15. Dinosaur Jr. – Feel the Pain mp3 from Without A Sound (4:18) [Time Remaining: 939:39]

When looking over my list thus far, I ultimately decided it was time to add an older favorite that I’ve loved since I was a kid. I owe my love for the song entirely to BER. In fact my little brother, who was a mere four years old when this song was released, loves this song now. So we both owe it to the radio station and, of course, this being a great song.

16. Red House Painters – Have You Forgotten mp3 from the Vanilla Sky OST (5:29) [Time Remaining: 934:10]

At least amongst my friends, and perhaps all throughout Kozelek fan-dom, there will be a divergence of opinion over which version of this song is better. For those unaware, the original version is off Songs For A Blue Guitar and the arrangement is completely different. Andy advised me he doesn’t like this version and attempted to persuade me that I was wrong. (The fact we are both so passionate about this of all things should tell you why we write a music blog in case you didn’t know by now.) Considering the fact the both of us feel so strongly about different versions should tell you how the great the song is. In my opinion both are incredible, but when I listen to this version it absolutely kills me every time. I don’t care that it is reworked and from a Tom Cruise film. It resonates more with me because of the pace and the aching guitars.

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Essential Album: Red House Painters – Songs For a Blue Guitar

This afternoon we’re debuting what will be another new feature on Tympanogram – the Essential Album.  What “Essential Album” entails is that this is an album that absolutely should be in your collection.  Not simply one or two songs, but the whole thing.  After you’re done reading the post, we recommend that you go and buy it.  In fact, don’t even wait.  Go and buy it now, and listen while you read.  If you miss a post, there’s a handy page at the top of the site where you can get up-to-date.

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Here is a statement of fact that has no bearing on the remainder of the post, but is one which may call into question whether or not we should be making claims as to what is an Essential Album: neither of the editors of this blog own a copy of Thriller. I personally have a couple of tracks from the album, specifically “PYT (Pretty Young Thing)” and “Human Nature” (because there was a time about a year ago that I was hopelessly obsessed with Yacht Rock)– but that’s it. Huh.

I remember the first time I heard Red House Painters; it was January of my sophomore year of college, and the Rochester winter was pissing slush on the city. I was sad about a girl, and I was driving around in my 1989 Mercury Topaz feeling sorry for myself when “Have You Forgotten” came on the radio. This seems like it could be a lie, but I swear it’s the truth. My strength renewed, I drove straight to Media Play, bought Songs for a Blue Guitar and drove home to listen to it for the remainder of the winter. Somewhere in the middle of the epic “Make Like Paper” or making my father listen to “Silly Love Songs” I turned out OK. (My father’s response to the cover?: Him: When did Paul McCartney write ‘Silly Love Songs’? Me: I don’t know. Him: Every year since 1960.)

Listening to Red House Painters takes a lot out of me. They’re emotionally draining, slow and deliberate, and can only be experienced once in a while. But for a patient, thoughtful listener, they’re a rewarding musical experience. Maybe you’re like Barry and can’t listen to sad bastard music; I don’t blame you. Red House Painters aren’t for everyone.  At the very least, however, you should have more than a cursory knowledge of Songs for a Blue Guitar.  I once had a girl remark, while listening to the cover of “All Mixed Up,” that “Oh! It’s the Gap song!”  Don’t let that be you.  Don’t let Gap’s marketing department be cooler than you.

Red House Painters – All Mixed Up (mp3) from Songs for a Blue Guitar

Red House Painters – Make Like Paper (mp3) from Songs for a Blue Guitar

mp3 Smörgåsbord #1

Here are some songs for our first ever installment of the Tuesday mp3 Smörgåsbord.  There’s a band named after a large mammal, a band of the everyday indie variety, a slowed down Genesis cover and an Otis Redding song made famous by that one band, you know, with the lead singer that used to be married to Kate Hudson.  Get ’em before the fat congeals.

Whale – Hobo Humpin’ Slobo Babe (mp3) from We Care

Scissors for Lefty – Got Your Moments (mp3) from Underhanded Romance

Red House Painters – Follow You, Follow Me (Genesis Cover) (mp3) from Shanti Project Collection

Otis Redding – Hard to Handle (mp3) from The Immortal Otis Redding